Crawler Crane
The crawler crane is a specific kind of mobile crane that is available with either a lattice boom or a telescopic boom which moves upon crawler tracks. As this unit is a self-propelled crane, it is capable of moving around a jobsite and accomplishing tasks without much set-up. Because of their enormous size and weight, crawler cranes are rather pricey and even hard to transport from one place to another. The crawler's tracks provide the machinery stability and enable the crane to work without utilizing outriggers, however, there are some models which do use outriggers. Moreover, the tracks provide the movement of the equipment.
Early Mobile Cranes
The very first mobile cranes were originally mounted to train cars. They moved along short rail lines which were specifically built for the project. Once the 20th century arrived, the crawler tractor changed and this brought the introduction of crawler tracks to the construction business and the agricultural business. Not long after, excavators adopted the crawler tracks and this further showcased the versatility of the machinery. It was not long after when manufacturers of cranes decided that the crawler track market was a safe bet.
The Very First Crawler Crane
In the 1920s, Northwest Engineering, a crane manufacturer within the United States, mounted its very first crane on crawler tracks. It described the new equipment as a "locomotive crane, independent of tracks and moveable under its own power." By the middle part of the 1920s, crawler tracks had become the chosen means of traction for heavy crane uses.
The Speedcrane
Developed by Ray and Charles Moore of Chicago, Illinois; the Moore Speedcrane was among the first to attempt to copy rail lines for cranes. Made in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Speedcrane was 15 ton, wheel-mounted, steam-powered crane. During 1925, a company called Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin recognized the potential and the marketability of the tracked crane. They decided to team up with the Moore brothers to be able to produce it and go into business.